Chapter 167: A Maiden’s Prayer

“What about Clara?”

“I went to the tavern, too. She wasn’t there. People said she hasn’t shown up for work in days.”

“Why?”

“How would I know? I don’t know where she lives. I’ll go ask around again tomorrow.”

After quickly answering Lu Wei’s questions, Bai Ya glanced at Aryan, then added, as if to protest her innocence a little too loudly:

“The tavern isn’t far from here, so I thought I’d drop by. If you hadn’t left yet, we could head back together.”

“…”

‘You’re just worried Aryan would make a move on me, so you came running over to keep an eye on things, didn’t you!’

‘Jeez, you’re really going out of your way.’

Glancing at the beads of sweat on Bai Ya’s forehead, Lu Wei mentally rolled his eyes.

“We just finished chatting. I was about to leave.”

“Oh, I see…”

‘So what were you two doing just now?!’

‘Was there any kissing and hugging?!’

‘Damn it, if only I’d gotten here a little earlier!’

Bai Ya pressed her lips together, annoyed with herself for arriving a step too late.

Just then, Aryan suddenly spoke up.

“Bai Ya, Lu Wei was just telling me about your adventures. He even said how important you are.”

‘Huh?’

‘When did I say that?’

Lu Wei froze, looking over at Aryan.

She gave him a discreet wink and continued.

“He said that not only is your cooking delicious, but you’re also very brave, and that the adventure went so smoothly all thanks to you.”

“Oh, really?”

Bai Ya’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

“I-I didn’t really do that much.”

“I was just trying to do my part. Sometimes I even feel like I’m not brave enough.”

“And even though I did kill a lot of monsters, it’s not really anything worth praising…”

Lowering her head shyly, Bai Ya realized she was so rarely praised that she’d never had much of an opportunity to be humble.

As a result, it sounded like she was bragging.

Aryan, however, was incredibly supportive, playing along and constantly encouraging her. Her tone was so sincere that for a moment, Lu Wei almost believed he had actually said those things himself.

‘So what exactly are you up to?’

‘Isn’t this laying it on a bit thick, even for pleasantries?’

‘Are you trying to ruin her with praise?’

‘If so, you’ve picked the wrong target.’

‘There’s no way she’ll realize you’re just flattering her. She’ll just think she really is that amazing.’

“Alright, that’s enough.”

Seeing that Bai Ya was getting a little carried away, Lu Wei finally cut in. “We still have to find Furen’s sister.”

“Oh, right. I almost forgot.”

Bai Ya snapped out of it and reluctantly said goodbye to Aryan.

“Aryan, we’ll get going then. I’ll come find you to chat again tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

Aryan nodded with a smile.

Then Lu Wei suddenly remembered something she hadn’t finished saying earlier.

“Right, you mentioned wanting me to go with you somewhere tomorrow afternoon…”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I just remembered I have something else to do tomorrow, so let’s talk about it some other time.”

“Alright, well, we’re off then.”

“Mm, goodbye.”

Waving to Lu Wei and Bai Ya, Aryan stood in the dim yellow glow of the kerosene lamp, watching until they disappeared into the distance.

Then she returned to the house and silently began to sort the eight pounds of Drowning Joy Grass.

She smoothed out the slightly curled leaves one by one and tied them into bundles. Then, she took five Silver Coins from her own coin purse and quietly placed them back into the Elder’s.

What Lu Wei didn’t know was that only fresh Drowning Joy Grass could be sold for 3 Silver Coins a pound.

His had been picked four or five days ago and were no longer fresh, so the buy-back price was about 20 percent lower.

‘Lu Wei spent so much money building his house. He must be short on cash.’

‘It’s a shame this is all I’ve managed to save up.’

Muttering to herself, she finished her work and went back outside the small clinic, sitting on the stone steps just as she had that afternoon.

She gazed in the direction Lu Wei and Bai Ya had gone, then silently folded her hands over her chest, closed her eyes, and whispered softly:

“Great Goddess of Fortune, thank you for your blessing that brought Lu Wei back safely.”

“I pray that your dice will always roll in his favor, and that your blessing may always be by his side.”